Chapter 84

Flashback – Major M – At the hospital

After Vika assured the security detail who we were; they double checked Vika's documents made some phone calls. They triple checked my new documents, made more phone calls then we stepped inside and – son of a bitch - the Old Man was going to be pissed as hell at me. There stood President Vladimir Putin, the main Generals of the Russian military and only one damn news team (probably from the current news corporation Putin had in his back pocket) and of course the large contingent of body guards; yeah there wasn't going to be the huge photo-op the Old Man wanted - this was going to be controlled and released the way President Putin wanted. Yeah he might not still be KGB but he sure as hell knew what he was doing.

But the biggest surprise was Sgt. Blaine wasn't here, Vika sidled up to me and whispered, "Major where is your Sgt.?"

My first thought was 'how in the hell am I supposed to know' but I decided to play it safe because I still had hopes of getting some action later. I was prepared to reply in a less stupid manner when a doctor breathlessly ran into the room. He fixed his hair then walked over to Putin, they shook hands and Vika informed me, "That's President Putin's private physician who was taking care of your Sgt., this should prove interesting."

Vika started to translate the conversation when the next thing I knew the damn security guard's hands flashed up to their earpieces. Then the fuckers sprinted toward me and the next damn thing I knew I was tossed to the fucking floor - with about nine-hundred pounds of fucking body guard gorillas on top of me.

Vika began to complain and shortly after that she was on the floor beside me giving me a pissed as hell look that translated to 'I wasn't going to be getting anything tonight', at least not from her.

What the fuck has gone wrong now?

Flashback – Jens

I noticed someone had 'fixed' Ben's Major's documents, but like amateurs they hadn't bothered to figure out how I hacked in and changed them in the first place. Oh well! Go in through the same SQL backdoor, a few clicks here, a few changes there and once again Ben's Major's new passport is revoked and he's again on the terrorist watch list.

Hmmm, I wonder ... I head over to Interpol's website, poke around some and discover they are using a SQL server for their database. After checking again I verify once again that ID10T's¹ prevail. They never changed the default administrator's password! I giggle, this should be fun!

¹ ID10T – Geek speak for idiot, "That Luser (user) is and ID10T."

I spend a few minutes figuring out the construct and table relationships. Then I make a couple of changes in the Major's information. Then I get an even better idea!!!

Flashback – Jack – At the hospital

I asked Masha, "Where do you think Tatiana would go?"

She smiled at me and answered my question with a question, "Jack, you need to tell me the truth! Does Ben have a secret lover waiting for him at home?"

I figured two could play this game so I answered her question with a question, "Masha, why would you even ask that? Don't you believe me or Banzai?"

She frowned and explained, "Well, most Russian women have heard, and accept as true, the statement that American men are too preoccupied with sex."

I laughed, "Masha, you know better than to believe all that you see or hear in the news. But I do understand there's more behind this question than your concern for Tatiana and Banzai. You're wondering about me and us aren't you?"

Flashback – Masha – At the hospital

Jack was more astute than I assumed and now I felt badly and I hoped I hadn't insulted him. I needed to discern his feelings toward me because I knew what I felt and if he didn't feel the same then it would ... Well, I didn't even want to consider it!

I took a deep breath and answered, "Jack, I hope I didn't offend you but I indeed would like to understand your feelings toward me and us."

He smiled at me as I awaited his answer...

Flashback – Ben – At the hospital

Damn son of a bitch! Tatiana was pissed about the damn flower prank (I bet it was the damn Major PITA that did it) and I needed to find her! I figured out how to let the side rail of my bed down, but how the hell was I going to move since I couldn't walk (well just because my legs didn't work, it didn't mean I still wasn't a Marine)! I needed to improvise, adapt and overcome! I began to feel around for something that could support me and – damn now this might just work...

I determined how to lower it to the lowest setting, carefully crawled on top of my rolling bedside table and found my hands just barely touched the floor. First I needed to take care of those damn flowers and that was easy. I headed toward the smell, found the flowers and tossed them on the floor - it made a hell of a noise.

Then I pushed toward where I remembered the doorway was. Damn now this was great! I was fucking mobile until – son of a fucking bitch that hurt! I needed to remember to not run into damn walls with my head! I missed the doorway and the pain had me seeing stars (even though I couldn't see).

I adjusted my direction until I found the door and then turned to the right (the same direction all men start when they go grocery shopping). I had no fucking idea where the hell I was going, but I was now making some damn good time...

Flashback – Tatiana – At the hospital

I was heartbroken! I had wrongly assumed Ben was unattached and then he got this incredible bouquet of roses from his 'secret lover'! I had taken a chance and for once thought Ben might have been different than other men, especially Russian men, but...

An overhead page delivered me from my sadness! Ben was missing from his room and the whole hospital was placed on alert to locate him immediately! Oh great! What sort of new silly thing did he decide to do?

I immediately arose and flew up the stairs to help look for Ben...

Flashback – Jack – At the hospital

I had wondered when Masha would breach the subject of our relationship because all we had really done so far was screw our brains out! Now with the chicken shit flower prank someone pulled on Banzai (I wouldn't put it past the fucking Major), Masha was worried about my feelings toward her and wondered if I also had a 'secret lover' at home.

I didn't study much about Russia but I had read several reports that described how American men were only interested in sex. It was probably because of those damn Russian 'dating' sites on the Internet that arranged trips for horny America men (that were total losers) to come over and screw younger women. The bastards got their jollies and hurt the hell out of the women – yeah it was the typical 'love them and leave them'. Hell I'd been to the American Embassy and seen the women crying (some even pregnant) because the bastard that fucked them (and fucked up their lives) didn't have the proper paperwork or finances to get them fiancée visas.

I had already made up my mind with Masha so this was easy. I smiled at her, took her hand and proposed, "Masha you're the best damn women in the world and I know it's going to be work, but if you would have me, I would like to be your husband."